YWCA Spokane is proud to take this opportunity to highlight one of the deeply valued members of our Board of Directors, Jennifer Vigil. 

As a board member of the YWCA Spokane, Jennifer helps guide and support an organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

About Jennifer

Jennifer Vigil was born and raised in the Inland Northwest and has lived on both sides of Washington state. With a robust thirty-year background in Healthcare Administration, Operations and Executive Leadership, Jennifer’s experience spans the full spectrum of healthcare, from Primary Care to Specialty Services, Surgery, Cosmetics, Private Practice, Native American Health, and Public Health in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

In her current role as the Health Equity and Impact Program Manager at MultiCare Health Services, Jennifer's work spans 14 hospitals, as well as related clinics and Emergency Departments. This role includes four regional board assignments and county-wide work on the Community Health Needs Assessment in partnership with the Spokane Regional Health District. Prior to moving back to Spokane in 2020, Jennifer led the program operations of 26 Sea Mar clinics across Western Washington, and managed grants which served Migrant Farm Workers and Seasonal Workers’ families. This division of Sea Mar fueled three hundred employees, including approximately ninety providers, and seven direct reports. This includes a $40 million budget, as well as stringent Joint Commission Accreditation. Her work in this arena was published nationally, with UnidosUS for the years she led this program.

Jennifer is acutely aware of the impacts, nuances, root causes, and long-term effects of health disparities. Her leadership with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe expanded care to the marginalized population of Indigenous peoples in our region. This included practice management reform, grow-your-own workforce pathways, AAAHC Accreditation, and precise grant and fiscal management, in addition to leading day-to-day operations and serving on the health center's seven-person leadership team. Most notably, Jennifer's work in this role was historically pivotal in gaining funding and programming to establish mid-level provider licensure for the CdA Tribe's first Dental Health Aide Therapist, which was also the first in this region of Idaho. With her unique combination of cultural competence, lived experience, professional leadership ability and expertise, Jennifer is sought after as a consultant and coach, infusing leaders and organizations with competence and passion for this work.

In addition to her work in both the public and private sectors, Jennifer is the mother of two fine young gentlemen and has recently earned the crown of "Abuelita," with the birth of her granddaughter. She is the business owner and lead-singer of Son Dulce Live Salsa, a twelve-piece traditional salsa orchestra which has been performing throughout the Northwest, headlining public events, fundraisers, and galas, as well as raising money for local scholarships, for over 18 years. Outside of work, you will find her doing interval training on one of the area’s numerous nature trails. She enjoys her sleep.

Jennifer is a passionate and dedicated leader. The professional development she provides to leaders in her purview often includes the words, "If we are not gathering, we are scattering." This sentiment is present in the full body of her life and work.